Senior Pokémon players and Xia Huanao in his previous life told him that shiny Pokémon were a matter of luck, a gift from fate. You couldn't force it, after all, everyone understood how rare shinies were. Some players, unsure of their luck, encountered a shiny in their very first battle, but unfortunately, they had no Poké Balls on hand, right?
After disposing of a pot of what had once been dark cuisine, Xia Huanao cleaned the Pokémon egg and placed it on the bed. He asked the system, "Is this about it? I just need to wait for it to hatch, right?"
The system, using Xia Huanao's hand to appraise the egg, offered him a pill of uncertain comfort. "Yes, this egg is already a perfect 6V. Now, all you need to do is wait for it to hatch. Yes, just wait."
Xia Huanao pressed his face against the egg. "How long do I have to wait? According to the game's logic, it should hatch once I've walked enough steps."
"I'm not sure. I can't accurately determine how long it will take to hatch. In the game, you only have a vague idea. But you can try riding your bicycle around Silent Sea City a few times. Who knows, it might hatch then."
Xia Huanao pretended not to hear the system's suggestion. The main reason was that he simply didn't know how to ride a bicycle.
As Xia Huanao stroked his egg, contemplating his future life of adventure with Froakie, his phone rang. Glancing at it, he saw a video call from Shen Yu.
Upon answering the call, a Fire-type Fox Pokémon appeared on the screen, gazing at the camera with a curious expression.
"It... it hatched? How so quickly!"
Xia Huanao was astonished. How long had it been? And the egg had already hatched? Shen Yu, on the other side of the screen, proudly picked up the Fire-type Fox. "How is it? Isn't it cute?"
Looking at the Fire-type Fox on the screen, Xia Huanao nodded and quickly asked the system in his mind, "How is it? Can you tell its stats?"
The system performed a quick calculation, presenting Xia Huanao with a familiar interface:
Name: Vulpix ♀
Level: lv1
Ability: Blaze
Stat Modifiers: +Defense -Attack
Stats: HP 11, Attack 4, Defense 5, Special Attack 6, Special Defense 6, Speed 6.
After briefly noting the stats, Xia Huanao said to Shen Yu, "That's pretty good. But how did you hatch the egg? Did you sit on it like a mother hen?"
Shen Yu pouted. "You're the one who's like a mother hen! She hatched shortly after I got home. Yours, has yours hatched yet?"
Xia Huanao looked at the egg of Froakie, which he had just enhanced with superior genes. "Uh, it's... it's close, but I think it's coming soon."
They chatted for a few more minutes, and Xia Huanao proactively ended the video call. He had no doubt that Shen Yu had called just to provoke him.
What to do when you're unhappy? Just transfer that unhappiness to someone else.
Without delay, Xia Huanao dialed Zhang Hong for a video call, intending to tease his troublemaker friend. But when Zhang Hong answered, Xia Huanao's mood took another nosedive...
Name: Snivy ♀ (Shiny)
Level: lv1
Ability: Contrary
Stat Modifiers: +Special Attack -Attack
Stats: HP 12, Attack 5, Defense 6, Special Attack 6, Special Defense 6, Speed 6
System's Friendly Remark: Suspects the existence of a chosen one...
Xia Huanao was slightly stunned, then asked the system, "What does 'chosen one' mean?"
The system, also conflicted, replied, "Although I need to get closer to confirm, it's likely a 186. Do you understand?"
Upon hearing the system's words, Xia Huanao didn't even bother to exchange pleasantries with Zhang Hong and hung up the video call. On the other end, Zhang Hong chuckled secretly. "It's obvious yours hasn't hatched. I've finally beaten you this time."
If Zhang Hong were a serious Pokémon player, he would know what a jackpot he had hit. A 6V, Hidden Ability, Shiny, Timid Snivy hatched directly from an egg. Was he trying to forfeit the game or something?
But Xia Huanao couldn't quite figure it out. Wasn't it said that due to an error by the breeding base staff, all the Pokémon eggs this term were congenitally deficient? How could such an absurd thing appear?
The system stated that it also couldn't understand. Perhaps the luck of a chosen one simply couldn't be explained by science.
Having been hit with two effective critical hits by his childhood friend and his troublemaker friend, Xia Huanao lay on the bed with a despondent expression, cradling his egg and groaning, "Hurry up and come out..."
Just as the system was about to comment on Xia Huanao's pathetic state, Xia Huanao showed it the true depth of human fickleness and the perils of the martial world.
Their homeroom teacher, Bai Lan, sent a group message stating that since all students now possessed a Pokémon egg, a new Pokémon battle segment would be added to the final exam this semester.
Xia Huanao, deciding to make a last-ditch effort, asked the system, "When is the absolute latest it can hatch?"
The system was silent for a long time before speaking with difficulty, "The congenital individual value is thirteen points. We forcefully boosted it to 6V. The gap in between is one hundred and seventy-three points. Each point requires time to bridge and fuse, so it might take one hundred and seventy-three..."
Before the system could finish speaking, Xia Huanao interjected, "One hundred and seventy-three hours? That's not bad, just about seven or eight days. There's still time, plenty of time."
The system looked at Xia Huanao, who felt "redeemed," and although unwilling to burst his bubble, it had to speak. "One seventy-three is definite, but the units that follow are unclear. It could be hours, or it could be quarter-hours. It could even be 'shichen' or similar."
The system was being polite. After all, the subsequent time units might be days, weeks, decades, months, seasons, or years.
Xia Huanao froze as if petrified, remaining motionless. After a long while of collecting his thoughts, he managed to say, "It's okay. As long as it's not centuries, I can wait..."
The system's inner monologue: Really? If you said that without a hint of a sob, I would believe you.
"Don't worry, it won't be in units of centuries. Over seventeen thousand years. That's not the lifespan of a Greninja. You'll definitely see it in your lifetime..."
As a certain famous virtual singer sang, if you can't resist, then enjoy it. We are all, couch potatoes~
Xia Huanao, listlessly lying on the bed, sighed, "What is this even? By then, everyone else's Pokémon will be close to evolving, and mine will still be in the egg. How am I supposed to take this exam?"
While he was agonizing over this, Xia Huanao heard the sound of the front door opening. His parents, Xia Tianjue and Hu Jing, had returned.
At dinner, Xia Tianjue asked Xia Huanao, "How is it? Have you chosen your Pokémon?"
Xia Huanao listlessly shoveled rice into his mouth. "Yes, I chose it. A Froakie egg. It's in my room."
Xia Tianjue's chopsticks paused. "Froakie, huh? That's good. But why do you look like this? Did something happen?"
"We have a Pokémon battle subject in our final exam, and I'm worried I won't make it in time."
Hu Jing tenderly placed two ribs into Xia Huanao's bowl. "Don't worry. It usually doesn't take more than forty days for a Pokémon to hatch from an egg. The exam will definitely be in time."
With this somewhat questionable comfort from his mother, Xia Huanao finally felt a little relieved and started eating.
...
At night, lying in bed, Xia Huanao asked the system, "System, did you hear what my mom said? Why is it different from what you told me?"
The system rolled its eyes. "Is there a difference? Where is the difference?"
"Where is it different? Didn't you say it might take one hundred and seventy-three days or something?"
The system rubbed its temples. "Let me tell you, as a system, we are very precise. What units did I use? Hours, quarter-hours, and 'shichen.' Even calculating by the longest unit, 'shichen,' one hundred and seventy-three 'shichen' is only a little over fourteen days. Although this congenitally deficient egg was at the breeding base for over two months, due to the staff's issues, its hatching speed was at most one-tenth. All added up, does that exceed forty days?"
The system's words left Xia Huanao speechless. He began to recall the game data carefully. In the game, an egg hatching cycle fluctuated within 256 steps. Froakie's hatching cycle seemed to be twenty steps. If converted, it should be twenty days. Two months at the breeding base, at one-tenth speed, would be six days. Adding fourteen days, that made exactly twenty days...
In response, Xia Huanao declared that the system was indeed a system, and it was undeniably watertight.
But why did Shen Yu already have an egg today? Zhang Hong was a low-key rich second generation, with plenty of money at home. Accelerating hatching wasn't an issue. However, Xia Huanao knew Shen Yu's family circumstances weren't particularly affluent...
The system, seeing the confused Xia Huanao, prompted, "Question: What are the ways to accelerate hatching?"
Xia Huanao answered quickly: "Abilities, the 'Flame Body' or 'Magma Armor' abilities, and the 'Oval Charm'."
As soon as he finished speaking, Xia Huanao realized that while abilities like 'Flame Body' were difficult to obtain, Shen Yu's family did have a Magby, and that Pokémon possessed the 'Flame Body' ability, which could double the hatching speed.
Xia Huanao seemed to have discovered the truth, but the system still added some other knowledge. "When you played Sun and Moon, didn't you use the Pokémon Amie?"
"Pokémon Amie? What's that?"
Xia Huanao's tone lacked confidence, which also made the system speechless. Although Xia Huanao had obtained Sun and Moon in his previous life, he had absolutely no time to play... so he had no knowledge of Amie.
The system kindly explained, "The 'Pokémon Refresh' also has the effect of accelerating hatching. The hot spring at Shen Yu's home, depending on its level, could be considered a max-level 'Pokémon Refresh'."
Xia Huanao was genuinely envious, especially when the system told him that various effects could stack. He became even more envious.
Envy made Xia Huanao's face contort.
Actually, there was one thing the system didn't tell him: Shen Yu and Zhang Hong shared all the means of accelerating hatching...
As Xia Huanao juggled school and hatching his egg, two months flew by...
Xia Huanao couldn't help but wonder, did I really cook this egg by boiling a frog in warm water?